Autopneumatic motor for self-playing musical instruments.



J. W. DARLEY, Jn. AUTOPNEUMATIG MOTOR FOB. SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED FEB. 5, 1908.

2 SHEETfl-SHEBT 1.

mitmeooeo Patented Oct. 27 30 87 J. W. DARLBY, Jn.

AUTOPNEUMATIO MOTOR FOR SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED rm]. 5, 1908.

902,382. Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNI'LJM) b'iA'iiES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. DARLEY, JR., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENKS, TO THE AMERICAN PIANO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application filed February 6, 1908. Serial No. 414,435.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. DARLEY, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore City and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Autoneumatic Motors for Self-Playing Musical nstruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to auto-pneumatic motors for self-playing musical instruments.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple device of this class in which the motors are inclosed in a dust proof case, presenting a neat appearance, and reventing the noise of the motor from being lieard, the device bein so constructed that the valves may be readily reached for cleaning and attention.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in the construction and combina tions of parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawin sFigure 1 is a front view of m improve a paratus, the front of the box eing remove Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, partly in section, and Fig. 3 is a broken plan view of the same.

a represents a dust proof casing in which the motors are mounted, thus preventing them from collecting dust and reventing their noise from being heard, to the discomfort of the performer.

7) represents the driving shaft of the motors, provided with a sprocket wheel 0 which drives the music rolls in the usual manner.

In Fig. 1 there are three of these motors shown, each one of them being a double motor, as indicated in Fig. 2. The shaft 0 is provided with three cranked portions, such as cl, and to each of these portions is attached one end of a link e, the other end of which is pivoted to an arm f attached to the up er art of the movable member of the dou le bellows gs Pivotally attached to an car on the arm e is a link h, the other end of which is attached to a sliding valve i.

The bellows 9 consists of a board centrally mounted at the to of a double inclined base or support 7', web bing it being used which connects the ends of the vibrating part of the bellows with the ends of the base or support 7'.

Thus it will be seen that there are really six motors in all arranged in three pairs, and also so arranged, as shown in Fig. 1, that the valve of the first one is fully open, while the valve of the second one is partly open, and the valve of the third one entirely closed. Each half of the bellows is connected by a passage m with the interior of a trunk, so that to close passage by the grooved valvei the air contained therein must be sucked into the trunk or box t. n represents a partition arallel to the base and separated thererom by a series of upper and lower strips 0. The base 3', strips 0 and partition n are all perforated by the passage m. Passages p and g are likewise provided in the partition 11, and the valve "i is provided with two cutaway portions r and 8. When the arts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, tie upper art of the bellows g being expanded, to colapse same, the air is, of course, sucked into the box formed by the partition n, strips 0 and base j, and on the reverse motion, as the bellows expand, the air passes into same from the box a. through the port 0, as shown in the lower part of Fig. 2; 15 re resents the box above referred to, and this ox is connected by means of a pipe 11. with the wind-chest (not shown) in the ordinary manner, and a partial vacuum is maintained in any approved manner in said wind-chest.

In one of the corners of the box a is located a small box 0, which contains the tem o valve w. The top of the box is open and t e top of the box a, above the boxo is also 0 en, as shown by dotted lines :6 in Fig. 1, t ese openings being closed by a board y screwed into the top of the box a. By unscrewing the board y access may be readily had to the tem o valve w.

T e tempo valve 10 slides between guides 1 on the bottom of the box 1) and between these guides the bottom of the box '0 is cut away, as shown by dotted lines at 2 the amount of the opening left unobstructed, bein governed by the position of the tempo va ve w.

3 represents a spring which holds the tempo valve to its seat, and 4 represents a wire running to the tempo lever (not shown) as may be operated by the performer. 5 shows in dotted lines, an opening in one of the ends of the box a leading into the interior of the box '42-, whereby communication between the atmosphere and the interior of the box a is afforded by means of the opening 2, box '1) and opening 5.

In proximity to the opening 5 is located the automatic valve 6 pivotally connected at its top to the top of the box a, and which serves to or wholly close the o ening 5. This valve act s aiitomatically in t e followin manner. 7 represents a bellows, connecte at its lower part, by an opening shown in dotted lines at 8, with the air pipe a, whereby the pressure in the pipe u is communicated to the bellows 7. The movable board of the bellows 7 is provided with an arm 8 rigidly attached thereto, and a link 9 is pivotally connected to the arm 8 and the lower edge of the valve 6, and, of course, the position of the arm 8 will govern the osition of the valve 6, and a variance 0' the pressure in the bellows 7 will partially open or close said valve. 10 represents a screw fastened at one end in the box a, and passing loosely through a erforation in the arm 8 and having a hea ed end which serves to limit the motion of the arm 8 in one direc tion. The bellows 7 is normally kept distended by means of a s ring 11 bearing against a stud 12 mounte in the movable side of the bellows. The other end of this spring is fastened to a pivoted board 13 ivoted on the projection 14 on the box a, w iich projection terminates in a sharp ed e. 15 represents an adj ustin screw passing t rough the lower end of the board 13 and into t e box a, whereby the tension of the spring 11 may be varied, as desired.

In re-rolling it is desirable that this should be done quickly, and for this reason I have rovided a large opening 16, near the top 0 the box a, which is normally closed by a valve 17 and a spring 18 bearing against said valve. 19 represents a wire leading to a lever (not shown) which may be operated by the performer to open the valve 17 during the act of re-rolling. Y

The operation is as follows: The air is exhausted from pipe u in the usual manner, and its tension of course varies with the rapidity with which the pedals are operated bv the performer. The pipe it connects wit the wind chest and also through the port 8 with the interior of the governor bellows 7, so that the tension of the interior of the Wind chest t and governor pneumatic 7 vary to the same degree as does the air tension in the pipe u. Hence the motor runs fast or slow de ending upon the amount of said tension. n order to prevent this variation and cause the motor to run at a substantially uniform speed, the governor pneumatic 7 is connected with the valve 6 as already explained, so that when the tension in the air 1pc u diminishes, the difference between said tension and atmospheric pressure on the outside of the removable board of the governor pneumatic will cause an increased pressure on the re-' movable board of the governor neumatic, and move it against the tension 0 the spring 11, which is capable of adjustment by the screw 15. This movement of the board will close the valve 6 and reduce the air tension in the box Q), and hence will reduce the pressure on the movable boards 9, acting on the out side of the same. Hence it is evident that no matter how much the air tension in the pipe u varies that the difference between the air tensions on both sides of the movable board g of the motors will remain substantially con stant, and the motors will run at a constant speed inde iendent of the air tension in the pipe u. V\ hile the motor speed is thus kept constant, it may be varied from time to time by moving the lever which connects with the valve w so as to vary the opening of the port 2.

By my invention several distinct advantages are obtained. The motors are inclosed in a dust proof box which prevents them from collecting dust and also prevents the noise thereof from interfering with the music. The whole box is of a neat and ornamental appearance, while further, by my constructions, the valves can be readily reached for cleanin or repairing without taking the whole t ing to pieces. The valves 6 and 17 being outslde of the box a can readily be reached, and the valve w can also readily be reached by simply removing the board y.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an auto-pneumatic motor for selfplaying musical instruments, the combination of -nrt6i a source of power therefor an air-tig t box inclosing said motor provided with an opening communicating with the atmosphere, a moto regulator consisting of a cut-off valve lscated over said 0 ening in said box, a bellows connected wit said source of powe'i, and connections between said bellows and valve whereby the air pressure in said source of power governs the osition of said valve, substantially as described.

2. In an auto-pneumatic motor for selfplaying musical instruments, the combination of a motor, an air-ti ht box inclosing said motor and provided with an opening, an air pipe in communication with said motor a valve normally closing said opening, and means operated by the air pressure within said air pipe for automatically governing the position of said valve, substantially as described.

3. In an auto-pneumatic motor for selfplayin musical instruments, the combination 0 a motor, a source of power therefor an'air-tight box inclosing the same and provided with an opening communicating with the atmosphere, a valve adapted to 0 en or close said opening, a bellows operative y connected with said source of power, a spring for normally holding said bellows distended, and

eonneetions between saiu lllinunu said valve, whereby the air pressure in said souree of power autoulatieallv governs the position of said valve, substantially as deseribed.

"l. 7111 an anto-pneunlatie motor l'or sellplaying musieal instruments, the eombination ol a motor, a sourre ol' power therefor an i air-tighhdmx int-losing said motor and provided with an opening eonuuunieating with the atmosphere, a valve adapted to close said opening, means whereby the air pressure in said souree of power will automatieally vary the position. of said valve, a seeond box within said lirst named box provided. with. an. opening leading into said lirst named box, and a tempo valve in said seeond named box adapted to slide over said last named opening, substantially as described.

5. ln an auto-pneumatie motor for sellplaying" musical instruments, the combination of a motor, a souree of power therefor an air-tight box inelosing the same, said box being provided with. an opening eommunieating with the atmosphere, a valve adapted to (-lose said opening, means wl'ierebv the air pressure in said source of power will govern the position of said valve, said box being provided with another opening eoimnunieating with the atmosphere, a spring-pressed valve normally closing said last named opening, and a wire for operating said valve, substantially as deseribed.

In. testimony whereof, I. allix my signature. in presenee ol two Witnesses.

JOHN W. DARLIGY, JR. \Vitnesses E. H. DARLEY, J. W'ILMERIroN Dimmer. 

